My Passat diesel's fan stays on after I switch off the engine - is this related to the DPF?

I have a Passat Estate diesel and have read your comments regarding the problems of the DPF. On a couple of occasions recently the engine fan has continued to run after a short journey. Since then I have completed a number of long journeys at the end of which the fan was not running. Would the fan running after the short journeys be anything to do with the DPF?

Asked on 1 June 2013 by MF, Harpenden

Answered by Honest John
Probably. When the DPF regenerates it gets extremely hot. So it’s likely you reached the end of your journey during a regeneration and that's why the fan stayed on. During a long journey all the regeneration necessary to burn off the particulates from the cold start will have taken place during the journey.
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